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EARLY CAREERS

Solicitor apprenticeship

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About this programme

The opportunities and experiences you'll have on our solicitor apprenticeship will enable you to develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to succeed in a career in law. You'll be earning while you learn, with no university fees or student debt.

Programme details

Explore the intersection between law and business. Discover how an international law firm makes an impact in the UK and around the world. Develop the foundation of skills you need for a global legal career. You’ll do all this and more on our six-year Level 7 Solicitor Apprenticeship Programme.

As a solicitor apprentice, you'll get the qualifications and experience you need to start a global career that transcends traditional boundaries. You'll be part of a firm that embraces new ideas and fosters progress. With a focus on shaping the future of law, you'll do work that's as diverse as the world we live in.

On the solicitor apprenticeship, you'll be earning while you learn, with no university fees or student debt. You'll spend one day a week with our training provider, the University of Law, studying towards:

  • A government accredited Level 7 Solicitor Apprenticeship (equivalent to a master’s degree)
  • A law degree (LLB) in Legal Practice and Skills
  • The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE)

You'll also:

  • complete work-based learning (four days a week) by working in our practice groups. You'll complete rotations (work placements in different practice groups) across the office to use the knowledge and skills learn from your academic studies;
  • have access to international and client secondment opportunities;
  • be at the forefront of legal innovation, working on high-profile, cross-border projects that will shape the future of law and business. You’ll see how we think across borders to find creative solutions for our clients;
  • join a forward-looking, friendly team while collaborating with colleagues around the world to drive results you're proud of;
  • develop your knowledge and skills through structured learning and development opportunities in our supportive culture;
  • be supported by a strong internal network of supervisors, buddies, and mentors who'll set you up for success and guide you in identifying your own personal and professional goals;
  • have a dedicated apprenticeship programme manager and tuition provider skills coach who'll work with you to ensure your journey on the apprenticeship reflects your career aspirations. You'll receive the highest standard of pastoral care to help you balance your role alongside your academic studies;
  • be part of an international early careers community of talented colleagues who’ll become part of your global network;
  • have opportunities to engage with initiatives beyond your role, including getting involved with our people networks, legal tech, sustainability and pro bono work;
  • enjoy a working environment where your wellbeing is always a priority, and your workload will be managed so you can always deliver your best; and
  • emerge from the programme not just as a qualified lawyer, but as a global business advisor equipped to tackle the challenges of an ever-evolving world.

You’ll have the freedom to discover your own path and make an extraordinary impact beyond the borders of traditional law. Tomorrow’s legal industry can’t hire yesterday’s skills.

Unlock your potential and start building a different kind of legal career.

What do we look for?

We’re looking for people from a diverse range of backgrounds who have the potential to thrive at our firm.

To succeed on our early careers programmes, you don’t need any specific legal experience or education, but you will:

  • have an interest in international law and business;
  • have a forward-thinking and entrepreneurial mindset and be excited about doing things differently in the legal industry;
  • be self-motivated by a strong desire to achieve your personal and professional goals;
  • enjoy collaborating with others while also enjoying independent study;
  • have a growth mindset so you see setbacks as learning opportunities, and you’ll proactively look for ways to grow and develop;
  • enjoy working in an ever-changing environment and understand the importance of being flexible at work;
  • enjoy taking ownership of tasks and thinking critically; and
  • be an advocate of apprenticeships as an alternative route into law and know how to embed DLA Piper's values into your work.

Please note, applications for 2025 apprenticeship opportunities will open in November 2024. Please register your interest using the link on this page and we will be in touch to confirm the application opening date nearer the time. 

Am I eligible?

As a firm we do not have any academic requirements to apply for our solicitor apprenticeship, however the tuition providers we work with do have minimum academic requirements.

  • You will need at least three C’s at A Level and five GCSEs, including Maths and English, or equivalent, at Grade C/4 or above.
  • You need to have the right to work in the UK and have lived in the UK for the last three years.
  • Please contact us if you are unsure of your eligibility
  • Please note that we're not currently accepting applications for this programme.
Meet us
Accessibility
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Accessibility

At DLA Piper, we are committed to making reasonable adjustments and removing disability-related barriers. This is so everyone, irrespective of a visible or non-visible disability, neurodivergence, a long-term health condition or injury, has an equitable opportunity to succeed in our recruitment process.

If you think you may need adjustments or additional support to enable you to participate in our recruitment process, please get in touch with our Early Careers team and we will be happy to support you.

We understand that sharing your needs with us may feel daunting. We will have an open discussion with you about what will work best for you in the recruitment process, and you only need to share what you feel comfortable with. Our team will ensure that the information you provide will be treated confidentially. The information will only be shared with others involved in the process, on your approval, and where necessary.

We will use the information you share to put adjustments in place for you at any stage, or at multiple stages, of the recruitment process. This is to enable you to perform to the best of your ability, and to have an equitable opportunity to perform and thrive.

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Recruitment roadmap

Application form

Our application form will capture some key information regarding yourself and will also ask you to submit an answer to our application question regarding your motivations to apply to DLA Piper. We will also ask you to submit a CV.

Rare

DLA Piper is proud to use the Rare Contextual Recruitment System (CRS). We will ask all applicants to complete a contextualised information survey, which is not mandatory. The CRS allows us to understand each candidate’s achievements in the context that they have been gained. We understand that not all candidate’s achievements look the same on paper – and we want to recruit the best people, regardless of their background.

Video interview

The video interview has been developed to assess your motivations and alignment to the role you have applied for. It will consist of three questions which are focused on the behaviours which are important to be successful at DLA Piper.

Assessment Centre

The final stage is an Assessment Centre. It will comprise of exercises which give you the chance to demonstrate your strengths and help us get to know you better.

Ready to shape your future with DLA Piper?

Register your interest

Frequently asked questions

Can I use Generative AI tools in the recruitment process?

Generative AI (GenAI) is a fascinating branch of AI that can produce original and creative content. It uses complex algorithms and neural networks to learn from data and generate outputs that mimic human-like creativity. The data used to train GenAI tools can be text, images, audio, video or other types of content.

GenAI is changing how we work and will impact how you work in your career. It has the potential to bring benefits and opportunities yet also poses challenges and risks.

If you're planning to use GenAI tools within the recruitment process, we'd recommend being both responsible and cautious. The recruitment process for our early careers programmes is your opportunity to demonstrate your potential – your experiences, skills, strengths and career aspirations. It's also our way of assessing whether you're likely to succeed in an early careers role at DLA Piper.

Integrity and honesty are fundamental attributes of anyone aspiring to work in the legal industry. Using GenAI tools can be helpful in your job search and in the application process, if the tools are used appropriately. Maintaining integrity whilst using these tools requires human direction over how generative AI is used, and here's our top tips for getting this right.

What does good use of GenAI tools look like?

  1. Upskilling yourself on the limitations of GenAI technologies and being aware of GenAI tools-related risks and how to prevent them.

  2. Being transparent about your use of AI. Be prepared to discuss how you've used GenAI tools in the recruitment process – this will demonstrate your ability to leverage new technologies effectively whilst also showing that you understand what ethical usage looks like.

  3. Understanding how the GenAI tools work. GenAI tools like ChatGPT are like a 'really big word calculator' – you don't need to have detailed knowledge about the inner workings of the GenAI tools, but taking the time to understand how they work is important to ensure you're using the GenAI tools appropriately.

  4. Researching employers and what different employers are looking for from candidates. GenAI tools can be helpful in finding job opportunities which match your strengths and career aspirations.

  5. Helping your initial brainstorming process. GenAI tools can help inspire, clarify and articulate your ideas, but they cannot replicate your personal thoughts and feelings. Always refine the tool's output using your own voice and experiences - an AI-generated response to a motivational question will not authentically convey your skills and experiences.

  6. Helping you structure your ideas. Once you've decided what you want to say, a GenAI tool could help you decide how to layout your ideas. Always check the tool's output, which should be used as a first draft for you to edit.

  7. Checking written responses for readability, especially for spelling, grammar and clarity.

  8. Anonymising your inputs to the tool and removing all personal data and sensitive information. For example, if you're asking the GenAI tool to check your CV for brevity, remember to remove your name from the document you upload. This is because all data inputted into GenAI tools is used to train the algorithm and the tools are not usually capable of maintaining the confidentiality of sensitive information.

  9. Asking the tool for tips on how to prepare for online assessments, for example the Watson Glaser critical thinking assessment. These tips can help you prepare for and reduce your anxiety when completing the real assessment.

  10. Using the tool to help you prepare for interviews or assessment centres, by asking for example interview questions.

What does poor use of GenAI tools look like?

  1. Copy and pasting AI-generated responses without editing the output or clearly acknowledging where the information has been obtained from. Don't rely on automated personalisation and don't let the GenAI tools replace your personal stories and experiences.

  2. Using simple and generic prompts. The tool's output will be based on the question you ask it (known as a prompt) so it may not always provide comprehensive or relevant information.

  3. Relying solely on the GenAI tools and not checking the output for factual accuracy. Always understand the sources of the AI-generated content and fact check all outputs.

  4. Using the GenAI tools to replace your thoughts and capabilities.

  5. Using the GenAI tools to misrepresent your skills, strengths or experiences.

  6. Using the GenAI tools to complete online assessments within the recruitment process, because they will give an inaccurate picture of your true abilities. These assessments are designed to assess your capabilities and potential, therefore using GenAI tools to generate answers for you will misrepresent how you naturally think.

  7. Using the GenAI tools to give you responses to video interview questions. This is because the responses will not portray your authentic voice, may not contain accurate content and will likely not sound natural when read aloud. Overreliance on scripted responses from GenAI tools will also mean that you'll be less prepared for unexpected questions.

Explore how we're helping clients understand the risks and opportunities of artificial intelligence here.

What are the benefits of applying for apprenticeship programmes, compared to traditional qualification routes?

On an Apprenticeship programme, you'll gain the experiences, skills and training to kick-start your career, in a supportive and inclusive environment. You will be working in our firm from day one while receiving dedicated coaching from colleagues and the apprenticeship tuition provider. You will receive a salary and have your apprenticeship fully funded. Ultimately you will leave the programme fully qualified with a wide range of work experience and with no student debt! 

Benefits include:

  • A government accredited Level 7 Solicitor Apprenticeship (equivalent to a master’s degree) 
  • 20% of your time to spend on off-the-job learning, this enables you to dedicate time for your academic learning
  • A professional qualification, technical and non-technical internal learning, coaching, work-shadowing and many other experiences to support your development
  • Tracked progression across your apprenticeship, allowing you to see how you are developing against the apprenticeship standard and what’s coming next
  • A large support network including a supportive team, supervisor, skills coach and buddy
  • A dedicated Apprenticeship Programme Manager who will provide advice, targeted development opportunities specific to your need and pastoral care support

What are you looking for in apprenticeship applicants?

We are looking for talented school leavers and career changers who are looking to continue their education while working to build their knowledge and experience as a Solicitor. We are open to a wide range of previous academic and work experience, if you believe you can add value to the firm then please apply! We are looking for your potential and we will assess your suitability for the apprenticeship through the application process. Good luck!

What qualifications are required to apply for the Solicitor Apprenticeship programme?

As a firm we do not have any academic requirements to apply for our Solicitor Apprenticeship programme, however the tuition providers we work with do have minimum academic requirements.

  • You will need at least three C’s at A Level and Maths/English GSCE at Grade C or above (or equivalent qualifications)
  • You must also have the right to work in the UK and have lived in the UK for the last 3 years

If you are unsure if you meet these requirements, please get in touch with us to discuss your eligibility.

How much of my work week will be reserved for study leave?

20% of your time will be spent on off-the-job learning which equates to one day per week, allowing you to focus on developing the essential knowledge, skills and behaviours chosen by industry experts, to help you build a strong career. One day per week will be a mixture of in person and virtual study sessions, lectures and focused study time dependent on the apprenticeship you apply for.